Sunday, September 23, 2012

Outside Influences

I spent the week working on a new mixed media painting.

Outside Influences

18" x 24"

Mixed media on canvas board

I introduced a few more new techniques this time. For instance, this is the first time I've worked with plaster. I applied it with a palette knife to the board and let it dry overnight. I wanted texture, but I didn't want sharp peaks, so I sanded the surface with 220 grit sand paper. If you try this, be sure to wear a mask and work outside. Plaster dust is harmful if inhaled. After sanding, I wiped down the surface with a clean rag to remove the dust. I thinned quinacridone nickel-azo gold paint with a little water. Using a soft cotton rag, I stained the plaster by rubbing in a circular motion.

I thinned quinacrodone burnt orange, transparent raw sienna, and cadmium orange medium in seperate cups. (Save your yogurt cups!) I toned down the cadmium orange with a small amount of cobalt blue. Using a large wash brush, I painted loose swirls over the base wash. I brushed a layer of matte medium over each layering of color to add depth.

After completing the swirls, I applied a wash of quinacridone crimson to unify them. I layered on another layer of matte medium. After it dried, I added linework with a Pitt 3B graphite pencil. I brushed matte medium lightly over the linework to seal it.

Using cobalt blue and cobalt turquoise, I began addding more opaque elements. I shaded under and to the left of them with carbon black to lift them off of the background. The highlighting is with titanium white.

I wanted to enhance the sense of movement toward the center. Using the colors from my palette, I stroked the center areas in the direction of the swirls. At this point, I also tore strips of book pages and adhered them to my focus area with liquid matte medium.

At this juncture, I became so engrossed in the work, I forgot to take shots of each stage. I took some close-ups so I can walk you through the final stages. I achieved the dribbling paint by loading my brush with thinned paint and pressing it to the surface to discharge enough liquid to allow it to run. Many artists prefer to use fluid acrylic paints for this technique, but they are quite pricey. They are still on my "someday" wish-list :)

The "backwards" type was achieved with gel medium transfers of old magazine pages. If you want your type to read left to right, you need to flip it horizontally before you print it so that it will transfer correctly. For my purposes, I liked the backwards orientation. It represents the chaotic input we are influenced by every day. The squares of turquoise, blue and white that flow toward the focus area further express the inflow of information and ideas and enhance the sense of movement.

I loaded my brush with washes from my palette and splattered the swirls with them. You can do this by tapping your brush against another brush or against your finger. If you're not particular about the placement of your splatters, you can simply fling color at the canvas with a flick of your wrist. Beware! I have splattered my computer, the walls and my clothing in my zeal :) If you want to limit where your splatters land, lay the work flat and cover the areas you wish to protect with scrap paper or rags.

On the outer edges of the canvas, I used a subtractive technique. Using a colorless candle, I rubbed wax in various places. I painted a layer of cobalt turquoise over the area and allowed it to dry fully. Using a 330 grit sandpaper, I gently sanded over the dry paint. The paint came away pretty easily from areas covered with wax, leaving a nice, distressed finish. I coated the area with a layer of matte medium and repeated the process with cobalt blue.

I will be doing plenty of experimentation as I seek to establish my creative voice in mixed media art. I hope you will join me for this exciting journey!

I think I'll take a day to regroup before I begin my next work :)

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I enjoy hearing from you and reading your comments.

Until next time,

Comments

Wow Terri. I love this experiment and your explanation of each step. When I began blogging, my purpose was to record how I'd gotten results. Your posts make me want to do that again. But then, I'd be on the computer MORE!